What can help against lice and nits? - briefly
Apply a pediculicide such as permethrin 1 % shampoo, then comb the hair with a fine‑toothed nit comb while wet, repeating the treatment after 7–10 days. Wash all clothing, bedding, and personal items in water at least 130 °F and dry on high heat to eradicate remaining eggs.
What can help against lice and nits? - in detail
Effective measures against head lice and their eggs involve chemical, mechanical, environmental, and preventive strategies.
Chemical agents such as permethrin 1 % lotion, pyrethrin combined with piperonyl butoxide, and dimethicone‑based products act directly on the insects. Permethrin and pyrethrin target the nervous system, producing rapid paralysis. Dimethicone suffocates lice by coating their exoskeleton. Application follows label instructions: thorough coverage of dry hair, a waiting period of 10 minutes (permethrin/pyrethrin) or 8 hours (dimethicone), then rinsing. Repeat treatment after 7–10 days eliminates newly hatched nymphs.
Mechanical removal relies on fine‑toothed nit combs. Comb the hair in sections, starting at the scalp and moving outward, cleaning the comb after each pass. Repeating the process every 2–3 days for two weeks reduces the population without chemicals.
Environmental control reduces re‑infestation risk. Wash clothing, bedding, and towels used within the previous 48 hours in hot water (≥ 60 °C) and dry on high heat. Items that cannot be laundered should be sealed in plastic bags for at least two weeks, depriving lice of a host. Vacuum carpets and upholstered furniture to remove stray hairs that may contain eggs.
Preventive actions lower the likelihood of future outbreaks. Encourage regular head inspections, especially in school settings. Avoid sharing combs, hats, hair accessories, and pillows. Maintain short hair or tie long hair away from the neck to limit contact.
Resistance considerations: repeated use of the same insecticide can select for resistant lice strains. Rotate between a neurotoxic agent (permethrin/pyrethrin) and a physical agent (dimethicone) when retreatment is necessary.
Safety precautions: verify allergic history before applying topical insecticides. Do not use products on children under the age recommended on the label. For pregnant or nursing individuals, prefer dimethicone or mechanical removal.
Follow‑up protocol: after the initial treatment, inspect the scalp 24 hours later to confirm dead lice. Conduct a second inspection at day 7–10 to detect any surviving nits. If live lice persist, repeat the chosen method or switch to an alternative class.
Combined use of these approaches—proper chemical application, diligent combing, thorough environmental sanitation, and consistent prevention—provides a comprehensive solution to eliminate head lice and their eggs.